North Korea Rocks Asia

The worst Asian nightmare has occurred with reports of North Korea's test of a nuclear device on Sunday. The event dramatically alters the balance in north Asia and sends everyone back to the table, trying to figure out what it means and what to do.

The WSJ says this event ends the viability of the Nuclea Nonproliferation Treaty. Calls for strong action by the United Nations Security Council are a bit hollow as well, no one really thinks the UN can take any effective action at all to address this new development.

Since no one really knows what North Korean President Kim Jong Il really wants it leaves a vacuum among the leaders of the region. China has been embarrassed by this ans shown to not have any real control or influence over its fellow communist state.

We are interested in what the new Japanese leader, Sinzo Abe will do. Here is a quote by Abe from today's Wall Street Journal:

"Separately, Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun held a summit Monday, with Mr. Abe calling for "harsh measures" against North Korea and warning of a "dangerous nuclear age" after its nuclear test. "The development and possession of Nuclear weapons by North Korea will in a major way transform the security environment in North Asia and we will be entering a new, dangerous nuclear age," Mr. Abe said at a news conference after the one-hour summit.

Mr. Abe arrived for the meeting, the first between the two neighbors in more than a year, just as North Korea claimed to have conducted the test. "A North Korea with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles constitutes a grave threat," Mr. Abe said, adding that he instructed his government to seek consultations with the U.N. Security Council about pursuing stronger action. Japan is also considering what it can do by itself and what it can do in concert with the international community, he said. He avoided specifics but said "we want a tough resolution from the Security Council."